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Of all extant ant species, about 71% are considered to be stinging species, as some subfamilies have evolutionarily lost the ability to sting. [1] Notable examples include a few species of medical importance, such as Solenopsis (fire ants), Pachycondyla , Myrmecia (bulldog ants), and Paraponera (bullet ants).
Solenopsin is a lipophilic alkaloid with the molecular formula C 17 H 35 N found in the venom of fire ants (Solenopsis). It is considered the primary toxin in the venom [ 2 ] and may be the component responsible for the cardiorespiratory failure in people who experience excessive fire ant stings.
This makes many experts put some children on fire ant venom immunotherapy, while others do not. [54] [65] The recommended maintenance dose is between 0.5 mL of a 1:100 w/v 1:10 w/v WBE. [66] For fire ant venom immunotherapy, the most common maintenance dose is 0.5 mL of a 1:200 (wt/vol) dilution. [67]
Red bulldog ant. Bulldog ants, from the genus Myrmecia, are native to Australia, with all but one of the ninety or so species found on the continent. Belonging to the ant subfamily Myrmeciinae, they are among the most primitive extant ants in the world. This species is known to cause some fatalities in sensitive humans. [11] Bullet ant
Pogonomyrmex (sensu stricto) workers have the most toxic venom documented in any insects, with Pogonomyrmex maricopa being the most toxic tested thus far. [3] It has an LD 50 of only 0.12 mg/kg, compared to western honey bee venom, at 2.8 mg/kg, and comparable to cobra venom.
The main body of the ant is black with a single segment of the abdomen, the postpetiole, coloured an orange-red. The mandibles, antennae, and legs of the ants are also orange-red. The hair on the ant is yellow, and is short on the head, thorax, and legs and longer on the gaster. No hair is present on the scapes. [1] [4]
Ants are able to disinfect fungus-infected brood by taking up acidopore venom into their mouth by self-grooming and applying it by brood grooming. [1] This structure is unique to, but not present in all members of the ant subfamily Formicinae. It is termed an acidopore because it is the pore, or hole, from which formic acid is sprayed.
Myrmecia forficata, commonly known as the inchman ant, is a species of bull ant that is native to Australia. [1] The ants are recorded in the south eastern part of the country, but are most common in the Australian Alps at elevations above 300m but can be found down to sea level around Melbourne and in Tasmania.